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Elon Musk is one of the most successful serial entrepreneurs in the world. Having made a video game at age 12 which he sold for $500, he started his career early. He then went on to create zip 2, an online alternative to the yellow pages, which he sold for over $300m. His online bank X.com later became PayPal, which was bought by eBay. Musk then followed his dream of space exploration with SpaceX. Soon afterwards came Tesla, his electric car and clean energy company. He also co-founded OpenAI, a non-profit focused on ensuring AI remains friendly to humanity. He also created Neuralink, a company making efficient machine-brain interfaces that can increase the rate of bandwidth sending and potentially reconnect severed nerves for those suffering from disabilities. He is currently looking to dip his toes into the world of social media by acquiring Twitter. Perhaps his most curious venture has been The Boring Company, whose goal was to dig routes underground to avoid traffic. He has also sold flame throwers with the name “not a flame thrower”. But the entrepreneur’s most recent product reaches new heights of curious: a perfume called “Burnt Hair”. More in this article from Bloomberg – Ross Sinclair
Musk Launches New ‘Burnt Hair’ Perfume With Fragrance of ‘Repugnant Desire’
By Low De Wei
(Bloomberg) – Elon Musk is promoting a new perfume, as the world’s richest man continues a track record of turning what ostensibly start out as jokes into sought-after products.
Musk announced the scent — called “Burnt Hair” and described as “the essence of repugnant desire” — in a tweet Tuesday, before changing his Twitter biography to “Perfume Salesman.” A separate product page posted by Boring Co., Musk’s tunneling company, listed the fragrance at $100 a pop, and Musk later tweeted that 10,000 bottles had been sold.
The billionaire had said in an earlier post in September that Boring Co. would launch a scent for men that will help them “stand out in a crowd.” He wrote Tuesday that getting into the fragrance business was inevitable given his last name, tweeting in jest: “Why did I even fight it for so long!?”
The Tesla Inc. chief executive officer has a history of launching products based on jokes that his massive fanbase has sought after as collectibles. A limited line of 20,000 flamethrowers sold by Boring Co. in 2018 to raise $10 million for its tunnel-building tests attracted huge interest. He has also used items to mock investors betting against the electric-vehicle maker, including a Tesla Tequila based on an April’s Fools’ Day gag and a pair of satin short shorts (priced at $69.420) to mark a victory over short sellers.
Musk has said that Boring Co. plans to make a functional so-called Hyperloop in the coming years — a tunnel-based, high-speed transportation system — although significant hurdles remain, including securing permits for projects and passing environmental studies.
To contact the author of this story:
Low De Wei in Singapore at firstname.lastname@example.org


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To make a large business think like a startup, creating the same environment as found in challenger businesses will foster that change in atmosphere. Northampton may not be attracting the same startup buzz as Manchester, Silicon Valley or the hype, beards, coffee and bicycle culture of Shoreditch in London, but to Barclaycard it is a critical operating hub and the credit card arm of the banking giant Barclays decided to bring a bit of the Valley to town once famous for its shoe making.
Roy Aston has been CIO of Barclaycard Europe since 2013 and late last year created an entirely new floor at the organisation’s headquarters that is a direct juxtaposition from the traditional corporate environment across the lobby. Aston’s pine wood, bright colours, giant white boards and rainbow of post-it notes is a loft style office.
“People have learnt ways of delivering over many years. So we are spending a lot of time with coaching and bringing in network groups,” Aston says at one of the stand up tables of the culture change that the startup office environment is just part of.
Aston explains that having joined Barclaycard in April 2013 he saw a wide range of transformations taking place across the organisation but what the bank hadn’t succeeded in scaling these transformations across the entire business. He felt that Barclaycard needed an environment to create greater collaboration and with a heritage in challenger banking, Aston knew that Barclaycard needed to increase the pace and impact of these transformations.
“I started at Internet startup banks at Egg. The learning’s from that experience was the customer focus and getting the right delivery. Also to fail fast and learn from that,” Aston says. He describes the main difference at Barclaycard being the scale of the organisation.
“Our transition is how do we drive new speed and new partnerships and how do we begin to think differently about financial services.”
Barclaycardis a “strategic line” of the behemoth Barclays banking group, Aston says.
Aston bases himself at Northampton too as he believes it is important that he is seen and how important the transformations are that are being developed in the new lab environment. Aston works closely with the COO of Barclaycard Ian Buchanan, himself a former CIO.
“Support for this programme from the COO was key for leader engagement across the business as you have to have complete alignment to make it successful,” Aston says.
Aston has 200 people in his team supporting the technology and transformation of Barclaycard Europe. “We also hook into a bigger set of resources at Barclays and can consume up to 1000 staff,” he says.
Payment is the area of financial services under going the most serious disruption, from initial challenger Paypal to the recent launches of ApplePay and Bitcoin. Businesses and consumers have a plethora of choices open to them that are not traditional banks. For organisations like Barclaycard it’s a major challenge to a once fairly secure market. Aston says the organisation is not worried and instead chooses to focus on how it can succeed in a far more diverse and competitive marketplace.
“You look at Pingit, Barclays is an innovative organisation and we have an innovation heritage. So now it is about how can we accelerate the speed of delivery? The development and processes have to make change quickly and that helps you succeed,” he says.
“This is the start of a journey for us. Northampton is a hub and there is more to do to build out from here,” he says of how the main operating base of Barclaycard has begun a change in its culture that will spread across the European business. During CIO UK’s visit a few minutes in reception demonstrated how European and important this hub is as every accent from the Mediterranean to the Baltic entered or left business meetings. Changing the culture, as ever, was not an overnight implementation.
“The change curve that people go on is significant and we spent a lot of time with colleagues communicating the business change and its impact. That is important to everyone,” Aston says. He brought the communications team of Barclaycard into the project to broadcast the aims.
Online services form a major part of the projects the new agile development teams are working with. A key partner for Barclaycard is Thoughtworks, the web development business that counts.
“Technology is at the heart of what we do and is now a core part of our customer experience.
“We are investing a lot in our technology at the moment as we can see there is a lot of growth that our team can drive. Capgemini and Thoughtworks are big partners and we are looking how we can engage with a different set of partners too,” he says of the need to look beyond transitional technology suppliers.
“Thoughtworks have helped with the culture shift to Agile and we see them as a partner that can help with the journey to Agile and that is good for our engineers.”
As consumption behaviour continues to change, so too will payment methods, so it will be interesting to see if Barclaycard can keep pace as a result of Aston’s strategy.
Roy Aston CV
April 2013 – present, Barclaycard CIO
June 2011 – April 2013, Citi Director of Business and Technology Transformation

domain: news


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SCOTTISH Borders Council is being urged to market Burnfoot South’s business park “to the maximum”, amid criticism that it still remains empty.
The purpose-built site in Burnfoot, opposite Barrie Knitwear, was bought by the local authority in 2010 as part of a Borders-wide project to create fully-serviced sites that would be ready for companies to move straight in. But the industrial area is yet to attract one firm - and local officials are calling for SBC to do more.
According to Hawick and Denholm member Stuart Marshall, several enquiries have been made about the site, but for reasons which include being too far from the town centre, or not creating jobs, have not progressed. But he assserted: “With land at Galalaw available and this new fit-for-purpose site at Burnfoot, it is important that we do everything we can to try and sell these plots to ventures that will create employment for the town.”
He went on: “Maybe there is still nervousness at potential new businesses willing to commit and finance still not readily available. Whatever the reasons are, we must make sure the land we have for sale or rent in and around our town is marketed to the maximum.”
The new 2.4-acre area boasts six plots, which with funding from the European Regional Development Fund and at a total cost of £730,200, were equipped with access, drainage and utilities. A spokesperson for SBC says the site is designed for new businesses, and for existing businesses to expand. And they have stressed that every effort is being made to fill it.
“The availability of new sites in the region has been marketed nationally in commercial property magazines,” they explained. “As individual sites become available they are also promoted via the council website. Three enquiries have been received to date about new sites in Hawick. The Council has made this important investment in Hawick and other key locations to ensure a ready supply of land for businesses in the Borders.”
The spokesperson added: “Depending on market conditions, there is often a time lag between sites being completed and sold for development.It is expected that recovery in the local economy, and initiatives such as assisted area status being granted to parts of the Borders, including Hawick, will increase demand for business sites.”
But Burnfoot Community Council chairman Richard Knight said: “It’s frustrating and I worry the site will deteriorate. It is up to the council to get someone in.”


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Exports To Fiji Down, Confidence Improving
Media release 16 November 2000
EXPORTS TO FIJI DOWN,
BUT BUSINESS CONFIDENCE IMPROVING
Business confidence in Fiji is already showing signs of improvement despite a 20 percent drop in New Zealand exports for the three months to September.
New Zealand export earnings to Fiji totalled $46.6 million for the September quarter - compared to $59.4 million for the 1999 September quarter. Total exports for the year ended September 2000 were worth over $189 million.
Trade New Zealand’s Market Services Manager for Australia, the Pacific and South Africa, David Robertson, says the drop in foreign exchange earnings to Fiji was less than expected as a result of the coup.
The 1988 coup had seen a dramatic drop of 30 percent in export earnings.
Robertson says the tourism industry is already
picking up thanks to a
multi-million dollar promotion by resort operators and the Government to woo Australians and New Zealand holidaymakers.
Food and beverage sales for the quarter fell 24 percent to $13 million - with a 29 percent drop in lamb sales in favour of cheaper mutton and hogget.
Sales of manufactured products dropped 15 percent
to $23 million - with nearly a 30 percent drop in industrial
and electrical machinery sales largely due to a freeze on
major infrastructure projects.
Robertson says some of the projects halted between June and August now appear to be back on track and there were plans for further investment.
“It’s all positive signs. The manufactured products fall off will start to pick up as private and public sectors start getting back to normal. Both the public and private sectors and the Government have taken quite a number of steps to get the economy moving up,” he says.
“The currency still remains strong, the inflation rate is lower than ours, they have six months export income in their offshore bank accounts and while GDP is down a lot of other economic indicators are positive.”
Trade New Zealand’s Suva-based trade commissioner, Jo McEvoy, says things are picking up.
“With the infrastructure projects happening there might be some spin-offs for New Zealand engineering and construction companies. Opportunities are also emerging for New Zealand consultants active in the privatisation field.”
McEvoy says it is worthwhile for New Zealand companies to return to Fiji to re-establish links with former clients. But adds there is a wariness about making any large scale investment in the Fijian market until a clearer picture emerges of the country’s political future.
For further information:
Market Services Manager for Australia, Pacific Islands and South Africa
Trade New Zealand
Ph: 04 496 6414
by Sara Darby, Trade New Zealand, Communications,
Ph: 04 496 6418


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A study published by researchers at the University of Southern California shows daily coffee intake leads to a reduced risk of death from heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, kidney disease and respiratory illness.
This multiethnic study analyzed data from more than 185,000 adults between the ages of 45-75. Study participants were monitored on average of 16 years.
The mortality risk for the conditions mentioned earlier was 12% lower for one cup a day drinkers compared to non-drinkers, and 18% lower for those that drank three cups of coffee every day. White Americans, African-Americans, Latin Americans and Japanese-Americans all saw lower mortality rates from drinking coffee.
Only drink organic coffee!
Coffee is one of the most chemically treated crops in the world. These chemicals enter your body when drinking coffee, and cause severe harm to your health.
That’s why if you drink coffee, tea or any beverage, make sure it is organic. Organic is your assurance that the crop has not been treated with chemicals or genetically modified.
Become a Wolf Pack Insider for free and get access to our articles and guides to live healthy naturally, without sickness, disease or Big Pharma meds. You'll learn all about disease prevention, natural treatment remedies, tasty healthy foods and how to detox your life.


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Mumbai: Tata Motors said on 21 June it has raised $450 million through issue of securities in the global market to meet product development expenditure and fund other projects.
The company has priced its $450 million issue of foreign-currency convertible alternative reference securities (CARS) at an initial conversion price of Rs960.96 a share, Tata Motors said in a communique to the Bombay Stock Exchange.
The conversion price is at a premium of 40% to Tata Motor’s closing share price on the National Stock Exchange as on June 20, it added.
Tata Motors said it will apply to have the CARS listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange.
The CARS would be convertible into either qualifying securities, ordinary shares or American Depository Shares. Besides the outstanding CARS, if any, at maturity would be redeemable at a premium of 31.82% of the principal, Tata Motors added.
The issue was launched on 21 June, and Citigroup acted as the sole global coordinator with JP Morgan being the joint book runner.
The committee of directors, at its meeting on 20 June had given in principle approval for raising $450 million, excluding green shoe option, through the issue of appropriate securities in international markets.
The company plans to roll out more variants in the commercial passenger vehicle segment and will invest Rs5,000-6,000 crore over the next three years.
Shares of Tata Motors were trading at Rs 695, up 1.18% on BSE in morning trade.


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Two tribes in South Africa, the Khoi and the San, have received their first payment for the sale of the native rooibos plant, grown mainly for tea. The Rooibos Tea Council, representing the companies, paid the tribes more than $700,000 under a profit-sharing agreement.
San Council Director Leana Snyders said it took nine years of negotiations before the Rooibos Traditional Knowledge Benefit Sharing Agreement was signed in November 2019.
She said native tribes still use rooibos when babies have teething problems. It is also used for skin conditions like eczema and to relieve stomach cramps.
Snyders said payment for traditional knowledge should be applied globally.
“If, for example, I am a business based on the knowledge of people who lived in the area, then I have made a product or I have used the plant and I sell it and make a profit as a business , so I would definitely recommend those kinds of industry collaborations,” she said.
She also said that indigenous peoples must be informed of the legal process.
“You have to stand up for your rights because, in our case, if we didn’t stand up nine years ago, going to the government and saying, ‘But we want our knowledge recognized’, if we don’t didn’t take the first step as San people, we wouldn’t be where we are today,” Snyders said.
This first annual payment of $700,000 comes from a 1.5% levy on the sale of all cut and dried rooibos. The money was paid into two trust accounts for the San and the Khoi.
Snyders said the money would be reinvested in the people.
“We’re going to make sure it’s for the upliftment of the San people. And upliftment is through improving livelihoods, and the main thing is education. For us, it’s education, education, education,” she said.
A director of the South African Rooibos Council, Dawie de Villiers, said he could not give an accurate estimate of the value of the industry. However, he said, the caffeine-free product is exported to more than 50 countries, and that number is growing every year.
“In fact, there are good medical studies that identify it as a good product to use for stress relief, and we’re seeing it increasingly used in a wide range of applications,” de Villiers said. “Not only in herbal teas but also in nutritional supplement formulations, so it’s definitely a product of today.”
Officials say this period is considered the pilot phase of the agreement and that further negotiations will take place to develop a non-monetary benefit-sharing model.


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Saturday December 14, 2019
Hotels and Resorts
Travel Agent Issues
SEVEN WONDERS OF EGYPT
As is only fitting for a country that holds the Great Pyramids of Giza, we’ve highlighted our own seven unforgettable wonders to experience in this mighty land.
G Adventures invites agents to experience trips first-hand with new fall 2019 fams
G Adventures has unveiled its lineup of fall 2019 fams with departures in October and November to a wide range of destinations including Peru, Turkey and Egypt.
NARAT opens up registration for May 2019 Ultimate Egypt fam
NARAT is now accepting application forms for its Ultimate Egypt deluxe fam, scheduled for May 17 - 28, 2019.
Egypt forecasts tourism growth, driven largely by North Americans
Egypt’s tourism industry is back on track, with total arrivals in the past 12 months up 33.3% from 2016 to 2017.
Registration opens for NARAT’s Ultimate Egypt fam May 22-29
NARAT’s ‘Ultimate Egypt’ deluxe fam includes return flights from Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, plus connecting flights are also available from other major Canadian gateways.
Militants assault worshippers in Egypt’s deadliest attack on civilians
Militants attacked a crowded mosque during Friday prayers in the Sinai Peninsula, setting off explosives, spraying worshippers with gunfire and killing at least 200 people.
Egypt upset at latest U.S. travel warning
Egypt has expressed "discontent'" over the latest U.S. travel warning to the Mideast country, saying the notice makes a false distinction between terrorist groups and violent political organizations.
Gunmen kill five policemen near Egypt’s oldest pyramids in Giza
Gunmen riding a motorcycle opened fire Friday on a security vehicle patrolling a Giza village near some of Egypt's oldest pyramids,
Is Egypt on the road to recovery? With bookings up by double digits, tour ops are saying “yes”
When it comes to struggling tourist destinations, perhaps none has struggled more than Egypt in recent years.
Your first look at the Viking Ra, sailing the Nile in 2018
Viking River Cruises has announced new details of its latest ship, the Viking Ra, which will sail the Nile River starting March 2018.
Next Page »
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Tourism Ireland invited a couple on holiday wearing a camera connected to a heart rate monitor. These are the moments their hearts chose.
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Created by Keita Takahashi, the chap behind Noby Noby Boy and Katamari Damacy, Wattam is being made in collaboration with Funomena, founded by thatgamecompany’s Robin Hunicke. That should give you and idea on how far it is on the bonkers scale of weirdness, and if it doesn’t there’s a video below.
The game was originally announced as a PlayStation exclusive with Sony Santa Monica helping out with development, but a new interview on Venturebeat with Robin has revealed that the game is now multi-platform.
“Wattam will come out further into next year, probably,” said Hunicke. “We haven’t announced a ship date yet. That’ll be on the PlayStation 4 and some other platforms as yet unannounced.”


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Samsung has unveiled a new Galaxy S5 LTE-model with a QHD display, a Snapdragon 805 processor and 3GB of RAM, suggesting that it may be the rumored Galaxy F, although it doesn't have a metal body.
Galaxy S5 Prime June 18, 2014
The premium Samsung Galaxy F (Galaxy S5 Prime) has leaked yet again, this time showing off its metallic design in a gold color option.
Galaxy S5 Prime June 15, 2014
The purported Samsung Galaxy F, or Galaxy S5 Prime, has just been spotted in the wild, showing off its much-rumored brushed metal design.
Galaxy S5 Prime June 9, 2014
The purported Samsung Galaxy S5 Prime has leaked online in a new press render, surfacing as the Galaxy F with a stylish metal body.
Galaxy S5 Prime June 4, 2014
The highly-anticipated Samsung Galaxy S5 Prime has leaked in some intriguing images, showing off its all-metal aluminum design.
Galaxy S5 Prime May 18, 2014


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The Global Gaming Expo Asia – usually held in May – is now going to be held in November, it was announced yesterday.
The venue for the show will be the Venetian Macao from the November 9-11. The organisers said that the postponement would “give exhibitors and attendees more time to plan for their participation in light of continued Covid-19 related commercial and travel restrictions.”
Similarly, G2E Asia will be smaller “and a more personal experience for attendees to focus on networking and exploring new products in core gaming and integrated resorts.”
The events are organised jointly by Reed Exhibitions and the American Gaming Association. The G2E Asia Online Expo and Conference will go ahead on May 25 as a virtual event.


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Roku Inc. News
Cathie Wood Watch: Stock-Buying Spree, Including Roku
Asset manager Cathie Wood's Ark funds on Tuesday bought shares of 27 companies. Wood has called tech-stock declines buying opportunities.
If Zoom Video Breaks to New Lows, Here’s What Could Happen
Zoom Video stock is off on Aug. 23 after the provider of videoconferencing and other tech services missed sales expectations.
Tony Zhang’s Uber Earnings Trade: Selling Pricey Puts
Tony Zhang from options action advises selling cash-secured puts on Uber's earnings, but we think there might a better way.
Stock Market Today - 7/29: Stocks Finish Higher On Apple, Amazon Boost; Inflation Data Sparks Fed Rate Bets
A pair of better-than-expected big tech earnings, as well as fading bets on big Fed rate hike, has stocks heading towards their best monthly gains in nearly two years.
Stocks Higher, Apple, Amazon, Intel And Roku In Focus - Five Things To Know
Stock futures higher on fading rate bets fade, big tech boost; Apple jumps after Q3 earnings beat, iPhone revenue growth; Amazon soars as sales growth, forecast offset surprise Q2 loss; intel slumps after Q2 earnings miss, disappointing guidance and Roku collapses after dismal Q2 highlights ad market meltdown.
Best Buy, Big-Box Store Inventory Strong, Roku Demand High: Wedbush
Wedbush finds no shortage of in-store inventory for consumer electronics. And it says Roku products are in strong demand.
Is Cathie Wood's ARKK a Buy? Here's Must-Hold Support Level
The ARKK ETF is a barometer for growth stocks. The action has been constructive over the past two months. Let's check the chart.
Netflix Q2 Earnings Preview: Ad Service In Focus Amid Likely Subscriber Exodus
Netflix has cautioned it may have lost another 2 million subscribers over the second quarter, but the planned launch of a cheaper ad-supported service could bring some of them back.
Can Cathie Wood's ARKK Rally 50% From Current Levels?
The ARKK ETF has slumped from its highs, and a 50% rally would recoup barely a quarter of its total losses. The chart hints at the prospect.
Biogen Stock Clings to Key Level After Explosive Rally
Biogen stock is up almost 40% on Wednesday but is barely holding above a key level. Let's look at the chart.
Americans Heavily Favor Hiring Ex-Cons for Open Jobs
Fully 89% of Americans say ex-offenders should be given a second chance, a survey says.
LeBron James Buying a Piece of a Major League Team
Participation in this sport grew the fastest of any in the U.S. from 2019-21, reaching the 4.8 million-player mark.
DocuSign Stock Jumps On Job Cut Plan Ahead Of New CEO Allan Thygesen
DocuSign said the job cuts will "improve operating margin and support the company’s growth, scale and profitability objectives".


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(Customers at the Second Amendment Armored Shack. Joshua Scheer photo)
Following the big box store shopping frenzy that is Black Friday, many local businesses in Lander had specials and the chamber encouraged locals to get out and support the small businesses. The chamber helped organize deals to run for specific times at each participating business.
“It seems like the participation was really good,” Goetz said.
This is the second year the Lander Chamber has organized a shopping event for the Saturday after Thanksgiving. While he said it’s difficult to be able to measure success compared to 2012, he’s received positive feedback so far. He said a number of chamber board members were out and about shopping on Saturday and reported back good numbers of people spending their money locally.
Goetz noted that even businesses located away from Main Street were reporting solid participation.
“We did a little promotion, but I haven’t gotten any feedback yet,” said Riverton Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jim Davis of Small Business Saturday. “My wife and I went to Worland for a family Thanksgiving, and when we got back to town that night, the parking lot at Walmart was as full as I’ve ever seen it. I think that early Thanksgiving opening there pushed back our Small Business Saturday a bit.”
While Goetz said the Lander chamber isn’t organizing any other events for the December shopping season, other items are in the works. The chamber is preparing for its annual community awards in January, and planning has begun for next June’s Brewfest.


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During a morning keynote address at the Streaming Media East conference, RealNetworks CEO Rob Glaser announced along with Steve Jobs--who tuned in via satellite--that the company will license Apple's QuickTime streaming format on its RealServer 8 product. Content providers that use RealServer will be able to stream their media offerings using QuickTime in RealNetworks' formats.
"The No. 1 and No. 2 players are starting to collaborate," Jobs said to the audience.
He said RealNetworks and Apple's QuickTime are the top two Web-streaming formats accessed by consumers.
The deal with RealNetworks will further extend QuickTime's distribution from several server technologies, Jobs said.
"We want QuickTime everywhere, and the more servers that it runs on, the better," he added.
The licensing agreement marks the first time RealNetworks and Apple have united their Web-streaming efforts. QuickTime has been regarded as something of a missed opportunity for Apple given the rise of other streaming media formats, such as RealNetworks, which have eclipsed QuickTime in market share.
QuickTime and RealNetworks do have one common thread in their respective histories: Both have been targeted by Microsoft.
Apple executives alleged during testimony in the Microsoft antitrust trial that the software giant played hardball by trying to prevent it from producing a Windows version of QuickTime.
Meanwhile, RealNetworks is embroiled in a bitter battle of market share against Microsoft's Windows Media format. Although RealNetworks says it has a dominant lead in downloads, other studies have shown that the gap between the two services is closing.
RealNetworks also said today that it will integrate a secure streaming system into RealServer. This will allow broadcasters to charge for programming on the Web.
RealNetworks recently unveiled RealSystem 8, its media package that includes RealServer and RealPlayer. RealServer allows Web broadcasters to stream content to online consumers.
In addition to the Apple announcement, Glaser sounded off on several issues, including his opinions on intellectual property protection in the so-called Internet Age.
Glaser said enforcing copyrights can sometimes turn consumers off to a product and can decrease sales. Now the industry needs to do more to create a "middle ground" on this issue, he said.
"I'm highly confident of a middle ground...(that protects) the different intellectual property rights and offers a great consumer experience," Glaser said. "But I think we're doing it in a slower way than we should as an industry."
Glaser's comments come after a major settlement between music Web site MP3.com and two major record labels. MP3.com last week entered into separate licensing agreements with Warner Music and BMG Entertainment that will allow MP3.com to use their respective music libraries in its My.MP3.com service.


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With Wal-Mart slated to come to D.C., there has been some controversy, primarily regarding the minimum wage it will pay. Mayor Vincent Gray recently struck down a bill that would have made Wal-Mart pay their employees a minimum wage of $12.50. Another controversy involves how this super store will affect other businesses in the area. Yet, despite the issues surrounding it, many residents of the District view Wal-Mart as a positive development for the community.
James Peters, a third generation resident of the District and a worker at a locally owned family business – a shoe store – considers it a good move for the community and businesses in the area. Peters express those considerations with DC Spotlight as both sides of the argument was explored from the community itself.


text: SMALL companies in Huntingdonshire want the Post Office to consider opening offices part-time, rather than closing them completely. With 2,500 offices across the country threatened with the axe in a cost-saving exercise by the nationalised carrier, the Federation of Small Businesses believes the part-time option could deliver some of the required \u00A3100million savings. FSB research has revealed that nearly half of small businesses use the post office more than once a week, so widespread closures could have a devastating impact. The FSB believes that part-time offices, opening two or three days per week, would cushion the blow. FSB Huntingdonshire Chairman Malcolm Lyons said: "The FSB realises that we must be realistic about the future of post offices, but it is important to ensure the closures are handled carefully to minimise the impact on small businesses. "Our members tell us a good way to alleviate the impact of the closures would be to have part-time post offices that open on certain days of the week. This would save money as well as maintaining essential services for small businesses and rural communities.


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The title of this page seems absurd, but I can explain. It all started when I was reading an article about a startup company called Metricsflow. Isaac Adejuwon, founder and CEO of Metricsflow caught my attention as a fellow international student. His company emphasizes data privacy by providing a “cookieless” solution to marketers through it’s analytics platform.
Cookies are small blocks of data created by a web server and stored in a user’s device. Unique to each user, data stored can be anything from user settings, shopping habits, search history, metadata, etc.
Data stored in cookies can enhance the browsing experience by providing convenient and tailored content for the user. However, cookies have caused major privacy concerns, as search engines and advertising platforms use stored information to deliver targeted ads. Metricsflow promises a cookieless solution that prioritizes user privacy and a robust platform for marketers.
Google plans to ditch third-party cookies by 2023. Metricsflow wants to be an alternative for companies that rely on third-party cookies and need a way to track visitor insights. Furthermore, according to Metricsflow, companies lose roughly 40% of their visitor data through cookies. Metricsflow claims to collect 100% of visitor data and make it easily accessible for sales and marketing teams. The company also assures marketers that user data is not sold to third parties or ad networks.
Remember when Apple ditched flash support for HTML5 and everyone thought it was crazy. Flash is now a thing of the past and on life support, because the alternative provided better efficiency and performance. Cookies might face a similar threat in the future, as more people have privacy concerns and new cookieless solutions show up. Companies that use cookieless solutions will be seen as “privacy advocates” and progressive. In addition, cookies are famous for losing data and marketers will prefer alternatives that are more efficient. Who knows, cookieless might be the future.
AUTHOR: KENYON NDEZI
ST. JOHN’S, Newfoundland and Labrador — Newfoundland-based tech startup Metricsflow is excited to announce that we have officially been certified for ISO/IEC 27001:2013 (ISO 27001), affirming our commitment to data privacy and security.
Host Lloydetta Quaicoe talks with Isaac Adejuwon - CEO of Metricsflow on his journey and how important it is to connect culturally to be relevant within the schools and province, and contribute towards an inclusive and cohesive society.
Isaac Adejuwon, chief executive officer of Metricsflow, is developing technology to replace web cookies, the tiny digital files that track online use. He wishes the startup sector was better known in Newfoundland and Labrador. Its 200 tech companies bring in investments worth over $1.6 billion, he says, and these companies are always hunting for talent.


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Retail and aviation experts to speak at WSU economic conference
07/30/2014 12:33 PM
08/08/2014 4:46 PM
Jack Kleinhenz, chief economist for the National Retail Federation, will speak at Wichita State University’s annual economic outlook conference in October.
Kleinhenz is also principal of an investment advisory firm in Cleveland, Ohio, and president of the National Association for Business Economics, the largest international association of applied economists, strategists, academics and policymakers.
William Swelbar, executive vice president in charge of InterVISTAS and a consultant and speaker on air transportation issues, is the other featured speaker at the conference.
The event, which includes a forecast for job growth in the Wichita area for the coming year, is organized by WSU’s Center for Economic Development and Business Research. It will be held from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Oct. 9 at Century II.
Registration for the conference is open, and tickets are $115. The price includes breakfast. Go to www.cedbr.org for more information.
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Sony to Cut 6 Percent of Its Global Workforce
April 9, 2012 10:38 AM
comment(s) - last by
These cuts come after the news of Sony's 2011 financial loss for the fiscal year, which totaled 260 billion yen, or $3.2 billion USD
Sony has announced that it will eliminate 10,000 employees in the wake of huge financial losses in 2011.
Cutting 10,000 jobs would equate to about 6 percent of Sony's global workforce. In addition to these losses, seven executives may be asked to give up their bonuses, including former CEO and current board member Howard Stringer.
These cuts come after the news of Sony's 2011 financial loss for the fiscal year, which totaled 260 billion yen, or $3.2 billion USD.
Sony has had some serious troubles in recent years that have led to this. One of the major issues was Sony's LCD TV business, which has had eight years of consecutive losses. The realization that this sinking ship will likely never produce any annual profits led Sony to
shake up its LCD TV business
last year, then eventually
sell its 50 percent manufacturing stake to Samsung
in their LCD joint venture called S-LCD Corporation.
In February, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services confirmed an
unfavorable outlook on Sony's long-term corporate credit rating
. It even dropped its long-term corporate credit and senior unsecured debt ratings on Sony from "A-" to "BBB+."
Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai
, which took the position starting April 1, plans to announce his plans for the company over the coming years this Thursday.
This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled
RE: Blow me Sony
4/9/2012 3:33:23 PM
Being popular does not make you "great". It just means you've fooled a lot of people.
"I f***ing cannot play Halo 2 multiplayer. I cannot do it." -- Bungie Technical Lead Chris Butcher
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read Latest articles about Tokyo
A 14-year resident of Japan, Tokyo-based photographer Irwin Wong has traveled across the islands of Honshu and Shikoku in an ongoing project...
Glittering fashion boutiques? Check. Gourmet dining? Double check. But the Ginza area of Tokyo also has character and personality worthy of ...
At Inua, an ex-Noma chef showcases Japanese ingredients in a whole new light.
Time is running out to see the world’s biggest fish market in action before it relocates in October.
Japan’s busy capital is a haven for photography enthusiasts, thanks to its plethora of electronic superstores and quaint second-hand shops...
Score designer buys, stylish accessories, and quirky finds at these essential clothing stores.
Diners can expect to feast on themed dishes, as well as shop exclusive movie merchandise.
The design-centric Japanese retail brand has revealed plans to build more branded hotels.
Burnt-out urbanites and weary travelers can enjoy power naps at these fuss-free and cozy sleep pods


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Welding technology developer K-TIG has established its operations in the United States through a partnership with Key Plant Automation, a manufacturer of welding equipment and robotic production cells.
Under the agreement Key Plant will establish a demonstration facility in Houston for K-TIG’s keyhole-TIG welding systems and K-TIG will set up an in-country technical capability.
K-TIG has appointed two senior business development executives in Houston and Philadelphia to drive market expansion.
Key Plant will now distribute K-TIG’s welding equipment in the US as part of their turnkey welding automation solutions.
K-TIG technology is a highly refined, keyhole variation of TIG/GTAW developed by the CSIRO more than a decade ago that dramatically improves cost, quality and welding productivity.
Initially K-TIG was focusing on US market entry in the pressure vessel market.
K-TIG executive director Adrian Smith said: “The USA has been and will continue to be K-TIG’s single largest market.
“Our US market development strategy is to drive revenue through on-the-ground direct marketing as well as the execution of strategic partnership and distribution arrangements which we believe will accelerate growth.”
Picture: K-TIG/Key Plant Automation
Subscribe to our free @AuManufacturing newsletter here.


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Congress leader P Chidambaram on Friday said that there are discrepancies in the data presented by two government organisations, which have been releasing data about the number of Covid-19 infections ...
We bring together the very latest drone news from hundreds of sources across the web! Product releases, reviews
& videos combined with help on finding some of the very best drone deals from stores and online outlets!
Constantly updated through the day - every day -
the site has everything for the beginner right right through to the seasoned drone professional!


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Returns are a necessary part of a business but can also be costly. The cost of returns includes the cost of shipping the item back to the retailer, as well as the cost of processing the return. In addition, some retailers charge a restocking fee for returned items. These fees can add up, and they can have a significant impact on a company’s bottom line. For this reason, it is essential for businesses to carefully consider their return policy before implementing it. By thoughtfully creating a return policy, companies can minimize the cost of returns and maximize their profits.
Customers are returning more online purchases than ever, becoming a costly problem for retailers. In 2021, online returns were expected to cost retailers $218 billion, which is 20% of all goods sold. The return cost is driven by several factors, including shipping costs, labor costs, and restocking fees. In addition, returns can also damage a retailer’s relationship with its suppliers. As a result, retailers are looking for ways to reduce the cost of returns, such as offering free return shipping or increasing their use of in-store returns.
The best way to reduce the cost of returns is to prevent them from happening in the first place. You can do this by providing clear product descriptions and photos, offering accurate sizing information, and ensuring that customers know all return policies before making a purchase. By taking these steps, retailers can
Oct 25 (Reuters) – General Electric Co (GE.N) on Tuesday trimmed its full-year profit forecast after reporting a decline in third-quarter earnings, primarily due to higher warranty and related reserves at its renewable energy business.
The company, however, reported much higher-than-expected free cash flow. Its quarterly revenue also topped Wall Street’s estimates.
GE’s shares were down about 1.8% at $72.02 in mid-day trade.
The company, which is in the process of breaking up into three companies, is facing challenges at its onshore wind business. The unit, which is the largest of GE’s renewable businesses, has been battling higher raw material costs due to inflation and supply-chain pressures.
In the United States, which has been GE’s most profitable onshore wind market, policy uncertainty following the expiry of renewable electricity production tax credits last year has hurt demand, contributing to a 15% year-on-year drop in renewable energy revenue in the September quarters.
Chief Executive Larry Culp said onshore wind is “the battleground” for the company as it aims to make its renewable business profitable in 2024.
Although the restoration of the tax credit for wind projects in the United States is expected to give a boost to demand in medium to long-term, GE expects renewable energy losses of about $2 billion this year.
“Near term, customers continue to defer investments into the future,” Carolina Chief Financial Officer Dybeck Happe said on the earnings call.
In the last few weeks, retailers, social media platforms, celebrities and fashion and entertainment companies have peeled away from business alliances with rapper Ye.
Ye, also known as Kanye West, has become a controversy magnet.
In early October, Ye wore a “White Lives Matter” t-shirt and dressed several Black models in clothing with the same phrase at his YZY runway show at Paris fashion week.
In a 45-minute “Drink Champs” podcast episode aired earlier this month, the rapper made numerous outrageous comments that caused actual financial repercussions for him and his brand partners. On the podcast, West said, “I can say antisemitic things, and Adidas can’t drop me. Now what?” He also suggested George Floyd died from a fentanyl overdose rather than police brutality. And herepeated several antisemitic conspiracy theories, doubling down on them in subsequent interviews.
Later, West threatened on Twitter to “Go death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE.”
Since Ye’s antisemitic comments, businesses have come under pressure to take further action against him. Here are the businesses cutting ties with Ye.
On Monday, Adidas ended its partnership with Ye, also known as Kanye West, with “immediate effect.”
In a statement, the sportswear maker said it “does not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech” and said that his recent comments were ‘unacceptable, hateful and dangerous.”
Adidas said they violated the company’s “values of diversity and inclusion, mutual respect and fairness.”
Sales and production of his Yeezy branded products have stopped as


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Have you ever met a Puffragette? You may be one without even knowing it.
A new documentary, “Mary Janes: The Women of Weed,” makes the definition of a Puffragette clear: “a woman (or man) who is working for gender parity, social justice and environmental sustainability in the cannabis industry.”
Director Windy Borman says her initial interest in cannabis was piqued by the unusually large number of women holding leadership positions in the industry. In 2015, around the time Borman started filming, 36 percent of cannabis industry executives were female, compared to the national average of 22 percent, according to a study by Marijuana Business Daily. (The same study in 2017 found women held only 27 percent of executive jobs in the cannabis industry.)
Throughout the film, Borman approaches the subject of cannabis with a dose of healthy skepticism, using critical thought, an open mind and honesty about her personal history to inform the lens through which she sees the plant.
In “Mary Janes,” Borman questions her own preconceived notions on cannabis as she interviews over 40 women in 10 states, each time coming to eye-opening revelations on what is commonly perceived about cannabis and what we are beginning to learn on a medical, commercial, environmental and political scale.
Her interviews with the female leaders in business, policy and activism — who she dubs “Puffragettes” — are both engaging and informative. She presents a strong assortment of women who both are experts in cannabis and demonstrate how skillsets from other industries can transfer into the cannabis space. The documentary highlights notable women such as recruiter Shaleen Title, lobbyist Betty Aldworth, public health researcher Dr. Amanda Reiman, dispensary owner Wanda James and extractor Mara Gordon.
The interviews are rich and informative. For example, Sara Batterby of HiFi Farms and Wendy Mosher of New West Genetics walk the viewers through the experience of maintaining medical cannabis and industrial hemp farms, and in the process, discuss sustainable farming practices, the science of hemp growing and how to create familiarity though lifestyle branding.
In another interview, musician Melissa Etheridge discusses her experience using cannabis as medicine when she had cancer and her drive to use her influence to advocate for the plant.
Many of the women featured in the documentary focused on social justice and reforming broken social systems, often calling out of some of their own privilege in regards to race and drug offenses. Of course, it could have been even more impactful had more women of color been represented in the film, especially when it discussed the inequalities and injustices around the War on Drugs, the prison system and discrimination against people of color. Perhaps we’ll see another installment to continue the story.
In the end, Borman poignantly reflects on the journey she’s had filming the documentary, how it’s changed the way she views cannabis and how relevant the subject of cannabis and legalization is to the world today.
Throughout the documentary, the material is approachable and educational for those not knowledgeable about cannabis and it goes a long way toward normalizing those working in cannabis activism, research, business and policy. Plus, the film utilizes great visuals of the plant and sidebar illustrations in order to impart a layman-friendly landscape for viewers.
The fact that the documentary illustrates a microcosm of the larger struggles the world today faces around gender parity, social justice and environmental sustainability are not lost on the director. It begs the question: Can healthy government and business models focused on equality and sustainability in the cannabis sphere become the standard for the world around us?
TELL US, what is your favorite documentary about cannabis?
Originally published in Issue 31 of Cannabis Now. LEARN MORE


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Update: GameRant has confirmed with Ubisoft that this was a throwback post.
Original: We may have just received our first teaser of a new Far Cry game currently in development.
Discovered by Gamerant, Ubisoft posted some promotional artwork from the most popular game in the series, Far Cry 3. The text below, when translated, reads “An Island that has never really left.” indicating that we may be jumping back on the island featured in Far Cry 3 in due time.
Keep in mind that this is just speculation, and it is possible that the post is just a subtle throwback to Ubisoft’s previous work. With that said, we hope that this isn’t just a random Facebook post, and that a new Far Cry is actually in development.
If this is a tease to one of Ubisoft’s E3 reveals, we should hear about it during Ubisoft’s E3 Press Conference. Ubisoft’s E3 Media Briefing is expected to take place on Monday, June 12th in the afternoon, although the publisher has yet to announce specific details.
The latest game in the series, Far Cry: Primal, is available for the Xbox One, Playstation 4, and PC.


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A glitch in Team Fortress 2’s loot crate distribution at the end of this week guarantees the rarest type of virtual item — ones that can be legally resold for real money — in several types of loot crates, where ordinarily players have a one per cent chance or less of unboxing them.
Between services like Humble Bundle, Twitch Prime, PS Plus, and Xbox Live Gold, there's no shortage of ways to get a monthly set of mystery games at an enormously discounted rate. Even so, Loot Crate is throwing its hat in the ring with a brand-new subscription service of its own. It's called...
The Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds’ development and community team have updated the game’s patch notes to include two new crates that are coming to the game, as well as some welcome changes to PUBG’s economy.
The new Fever crate will feature retro-styled cosmetic items, while the Frontier crate...
After Playing for a couple hours, I stumbled across a public event in the EDZ. I messed around it and discovered the secret to my success in making the public event into a heroic one. THIS GUIDE IS ONLY FOR THE EVENT INVOLVING WALKERS!
DISCOVER EVENT INVOLVING WALKER. (YOU'LL KNOW IT'S...
If you’re a longtime Overwatch player, you probably know the pain of opening a fresh loot box, seeing a legendary item pop and having it turn out to be, say, a duplicate Zarya Cybergoth skin. It’s awful, you already have it and you get a paltry sum of credits as compensation. The good news from...


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After reports surfaced earlier today about Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima officially leaving Konami and starting a new game studio; the final word came down when PlayStation worldwide CEO Andrew House announced the news alongside a slightly more bearded Kojima. Check out the big reveal below:
The new studio (officially named KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS) will remain independent, but its debut game will be exclusive to the PlayStation brand. Hideo himself took to twitter to confirm December 15 as the termination date of his contract with Konami. In addition to the announcement a new website for the studio launched with a message for gamers direct from Kojima himself. No doubt more will uploaded to the site, but for now alongside the message are several job opening listings for various positions in the studio.
It could be speculated that the timing of the announcement could have indicated this to be something PlayStation wanted to announce at PSX to which Konami exercised legal muscle to prevent. It would explain the missing 15 minutes of the PlayStation keynote and the “one more video” message that rolled right before that show opened. Regardless it’s wonderful for the industry to see one of its most visionary creators in good spirits and optimistic about the future of gaming despite being put through months of turmoil by his former employ.


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SamMobile recently found that South Korean giant has already started the testing of Android Q for the current series flagship Galaxy S10. The official Android Q performance is near. This means that right now is the time to start testing it on familiar models.
Rapid deployment is expected
Android smartphone manufacturers have early access to new versions of Android. Of course, Samsung, which is currently the largest producer of these devices, belongs to them. There is such a chance that we could soon see the beta of the Android Q for the Samsung Galaxy S10.
Samsung did not take long to deploy Android 9.0 Pie for last year’s Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 +. Therefore, as many expect similarly rapid deployment upcoming Android Q.
Will the user experience change?
Android 9.0 Pie on Samsung devices has brought the biggest change in the user experience. Android Q is reportedly bringing a 2.0 version of One UI on Samsung.
Of course, we should wait for changes, but they are not known at the moment. Also, the official launch date of Android Q for Samsung smartphones is unknown. However, assumptions are available when this could happen.


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Just a week after CD Projekt Red launched the most hyped game of 2020, Cyberpunk 2077, Sony has decided to remove the game from its online Playstation store until any further notice.
Two months following the ban of PUBG Mobile alongside dozens of other Chinese applications in India, PUBG Corp is gearing up to introducing its heavily popular gaming title and has made an investment of $100 Million.
Sony has officially announced through a blog post that the PlayStation 5 will support popular streaming apps like Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV, Spotify, and more at launch.
Sony revealed the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Digital Edition at a virtual event two months back. This time around, on September 16, the company is expected to announce the pricing of its next-gen gaming consoles.
Epic Games and Samsung’s partnership continues again this year. Both have come together to offer exclusive skins, the newest skin being called the ‘Galaxy Scout’, which is made available as part of the Galaxy Cup tournament.
Ubisoft, in a pre-recorded ‘Forward 2020’, showed off all of the new games they have been working on, with Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Watch Dogs: Legion being the centre of attraction.
At an online event last night, Sony, for the first time, showcased its next-gen gaming console, the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Digital Edition. Here's everything you need to know.
PUBG Mobile has revealed the date for the release of its newest mode – The Jungle Adventure. This mode, which is exclusive to the Sanhok map, will start rolling out to users via an update on 1st June 2020.
Apart from free two months of the Google Stadia Pro, users would also get instant access to nine games, including GRID, Destiny 2: The Collection, and Thumper, etc. You can also cancel your subscription at any time.
The new DualSense wireless controller along with PS5's 3D audio technology will deliver a new feeling of immersion to players. The DualSense adds new functionality and comes in a refined design.


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AIDA Cruises has announced that it will be offering new cruises in Greece from May 23, 2021, with seven-day cruises departing from Corfu and traveling through the Greek islands to Crete and Rhodes, as well as to Katakolon (Olympia) and Piraeus (Athens).
Guests will be able to enjoy the amenities onboard with multiple restaurants, bars, cultural activities and sports facilities, as well as organized shore excursions to explore the ports of call.
According to AIDA’s press release, Greece is one of the most popular vacation destinations for German travelers. From May 14, 2021, the Mediterranean country will reopen for tourism.
Booking starts on Apr. 20, 2021, with 23 dates to choose from between May 23 and October 24, 2021. The Greek cruises can also be booked as 14-day trips, AIDA said.
In addition to the new offering in Greece, the AIDAperla is sailing on seven-day voyages around the Canary Islands through June.
All cruises are carried out in compliance with AIDA’s enhanced health and safety protocols, as well as applicable laws and regulations.
With a testing strategy for guests and crew members already utilized on several cruises, AIDA said it is its top priority for all guests to safely enjoy their vacation. The enhanced health and safety protocols — tested by SGS Institut Fresenius and confirmed by the classification society DNV — includes a mandatory PCR test for detecting viruses and bacteria before traveling, as well as regular health checks, social distancing and hygiene protocols, medical care including testing capacities on board and other measures.
With the “AIDA promise,” the cruise company offers guests more flexibility and security in planning. Generous booking options are part of AIDA’s commitment to its guests, ranging from small down payments to free rebooking. The “AIDA promise” is included in the travel price for new bookings up to May 31, 2021 and applies to departures up to March. 31, 2022.
AIDA said that cruises in other destinations will not be possible at this time, with AIDA cancelling the remaining voyages of April through May.


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The main issue with 64-bit is the increased memory footprint, especially in pointer heavy code. However most instructions still deal with 32-bit quantities, and the new ISA and extra registers ensure you do more work using fewer instructions, so 64-bit does usually give a speedup without increasing power. We seen it before with x64 and it equally applies to ARM64.
However do you have evidence of a huge drop in battery life in iPhone 5???
Actually, 64bit architecture is slower than 32bit one with higher power dissipation. The major advantage of 64bit architecture break 4Gb memory access barrier. People wait to see any usage breakthrough for 64bit mobile architecture now.
Qualcomm, NVidia and MediaTek are set to release several 64-bit designs in Q3/Q4 this year (A53 for QC, A53/A57 for MT and Denver). So it's closer to 1 year after Apple. Samsung hasn't announced parts yet, but said it will move to 64-bit SoCs this year. And then there is Seattle, X-Gene and several other server oriented chips, all for this year. It's going to be interesting!
Drones are, in essence, flying autonomous vehicles. Pros and cons surrounding drones today might well foreshadow the debate over the development of self-driving cars. In the context of a strongly regulated aviation industry, "self-flying" drones pose a fresh challenge. How safe is it to fly drones in different environments? Should drones be required for visual line of sight – as are piloted airplanes? Join EE Times' Junko Yoshida as she moderates a panel of drone experts.


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RGF Capital, an Atlanta-based private equity group, has purchased SSM Holdings LLC (doing business as Ontronics), a reverse logistics provider and secondary mobile device company.
Ontronics focuses on device monetization through the repairing and remarketing of mobile devices and accessories. The company has served more than 2,000 clients in over 80 percent of the countries in the world. Many worldwide customers of Ontronics are reselling these devices through online portals such as Amazon and eBay, among others. Shawn Moeenuddin, Ontronics president and owner prior to the transaction, will continue in his role as president and will become a partner with the company.
Generational Equity acted as M&A advisor for SSM Holdings.


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This week’s Shelf Life features Big Drop low-alcohol beer, Australia’s first baked potato chip and Will & Co’s new coffee stout.
Big Drop Brewing Co brings two signature beers to Australia
Big Drop Brewing Co has launched two of its full-flavour 0.5 per cent ABV alcohol beers – Pine Trail Pale Ale and Uptown Craft Lager – into Australia.
The Big Drop range, billed as an alternative for craft beer lovers wanting to cut back on alcohol, is available to purchase in four-packs at $14.99. Brewed locally in Victoria, both beers are low in gluten and carbohydrates.
The range is sold nationwide through Dan Murphy’s and will soon be in BWS stores.
Smith’s launches Australia’s first baked potato chip
Snack-food manufacturer Smith’s has launched Oven Baked, Australia’s first baked potato chip. With its cooking method, Smith’s has 50 per cent less fat than its Crinkle Cut potato chips while keeping the same flavour.
“A recent study revealed that 53 per cent of Australians are increasingly looking for healthier options in indulgent food and drink categories such as chips,” said Vered Moses, lead nutrition scientist and dietitian at PepsiCo ANZ. “So we wanted to create a product that catered to the needs of this consumer but still delivered great taste and quality.”
Smith’s Oven Baked comes in three flavours – Sea Salt, Sour Cream & Chives and Roast Chicken & Thyme. The range is available at Coles, Woolworths and independent retailers at RRP $3.49
Will & Co teams with Bondi Brewing Co to launch Will & Co White Coffee Stout
Will & Co has teamed with Beach Brewing Co to create a coffee beer, Will & Co White Coffee Stout.
“It was a real fun process. As it was stout season it was a no brainer to team up, but we didn’t want to create something run of the mill,” said Paul Parks, founder of Bondi Brewing Co. “The Will & Co White Stout is a mind bender. Your brain gets ready for a Pale Ale and then, bam! [you get] a fist full of coffee in your face!”
The company said the beer is unique for its light colour in comparison to traditional dark stouts.
The product is available at selected bottle shops and Bondi venues.
Allen’s Milk Bottles with Oak-inspired taste
Allen’s has introduced an Oak-inspired range with two options to its Milk Bottles confectionery range. There are two flavour options: Iced Coffee and Flavoured, the latter which comes in creamy chocolate, sweet strawberry and vanilla malt.
“With two Aussie favourites coming together, this new and nostalgic range will give Aussies a trip down memory lane and is sure to bring smiles to lolly lovers across the nation,” the company said.
Allen’s Oak-inspired Milk Bottles mixed bags (RRP $2.99) are available at Coles, Woolworths and Independents. The Allen’s Oak inspired Iced Coffee bag (RRP $2.99) is available at Coles and independents only.
Ben & Jerry’s introduces Topped range with two flavours
Ben & Jerry’s has launched an ice-cream range called Topped, promising a melt-in-the-mouth experience. The range features a layer of chocolate over chunks and swirls and fudgy ampersand shapes.
The two flavours, Salted Caramel Brownie and Chocolate Caramel Cookie Dough, will be available exclusively at Coles stores and online.
Baileys launches limited-edition Apple Pie Irish Cream Liqueur
Baileys is launching limited-edition Apple Pie Irish Cream Liqueur, to celebrate what it coins ‘Friendgiving’. Baileys Apple Pie blends the classic flavour of freshly baked apple pie and creamy vanilla ice cream with hints of cinnamon and spice.
“With the launch of Baileys Apple Pie, we hope to provide consumers with a convenient way to experience this familiar comfort,” said Stacey Cunningham, director of Liqueurs at Diageo. “We encourage consumers to celebrate the ‘season’ responsibly and enjoy the indulgence of Baileys Apple Pie with friends and family.”
Baileys Apple Pie is now available nationwide, RRP $24.99.
Nespresso unveiled Master Origins range
Nespresso has launched the Master Origins range, celebrating local farmers’ craftsmanship.
Complementing the existing lineup, the three new single origins are limited-edition Aged Sumatra, Costa Rica, and Ethiopia.
The range also features single-origin coffees from Indonesia, Ethiopia, Colombia, India and Nicaragua for Original Line, as well as Colombia and Mexico for its VertuoLine.
“Our Master Origins are an opportunity for the local knowledge of our farmers to shine through and create the ultimate cup of quality coffee,” said Jean-Marc Dragoli, business executive office at Nespresso Oceania.
The Nespresso Master Origins range is available online and at Nespresso boutiques.


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WINDSOR – Fort Collins-based PetDine LLC, which makes pet-food supplements and treats, has purchased a 49,668-square-foot industrial space in Windsor for $11.712 million in a move to further increase production of pet-related products.
The seller was Five M Enterprises, which is connected to an investment company based in Englewood, according to the Colorado Secretary of State. Petdine’s purchase of the space at 1132 Diamond Valley Drive, Unit 200, on Sept. 16 is the latest in a series of transactions involving PetDine, Five M Enterprises and Archer Daniels Midland Co. (NYSE: ADM), which bought a 75% stake in PetDine LLC and three related companies for $450 million in September 2021.
Justin Boling, marketing director for PetDine, said the aim of the purchase “is to better support our current clients and their continued growth with more efficient production processes by housing additional pre- and post-production supplies near our new 105,000-square-foot manufacturing facility,” That space, at 1130 Diamond Valley Drive, was purchased in October 2021, and production was to begin there last January..
“With roughly an additional 50,000 square feet,” Boling wrote in an email to BizWest, “we can easily store and prepare materials for production and client needs. Additionally, it will bring up to 20 new jobs at varying levels to Northern Colorado.”
In addition to PetDine’s headquarters at 4700 Innovation Drive in Fort Collins and existing plants in Windsor and Greeley, as well as an expansive manufacturing facility in Harvard, Illinois, northwest of Chicago, Boling said “our second Windsor facility provides timely increased growth opportunities in the pet industry.”
Boling said there is no current plan to close any existing PetDine facilities.
On Oct. 7, 2021, Diamond Valley Properties LLC, a company formed in May 2021 by PetDine Properties LLC and sharing its Fort Collins address, sold the adjacent Diamond Valley space to Archer Daniels Midland for $16.83 million. Both spaces are in the Diamond Valley Tech Center, near the intersection of Colorado Highway 257 and Eastman Park Drive.
Slightly more than a month earlier, on July 30, 2021, Diamond Valley had bought the 1-year-old industrial building from 5M for $17.25 million. A PetDine spokesman at the time said it always tries to buy the real estate it occupies.
Five M bought a 62,000-square-foot building in the same area for $8.1 million, after selling to Diamond Valley.
PetDine had been making 750 million treats a month by mid-2021, prior to buying the new Windsor facilities, with about $50 million in annual sales. A spokesman said at the time that output was expected to triple by mid-2022 with that new building and an announced expansion of the one in Illinois..
PetDine’s primary products are soft chews, liquid food toppers, powder supplements and ingredients for client brands. Most are for dogs, although the company last year began to add cat products as well.
Filings with the Colorado secretary of State show Five M Enterprises LLC and another firm, Belitz Capital Holdings LLC in Englewood linked to Michael Belitz and Lisa Maguire. Belitz is CEO of Loveland-based Ultimate Support Systems, according to his LinkedIn profile. The company makes stands and accessories for musical equipment.
This article was first published by BizWest, an independent news organization, and is published under a license agreement. © 2022 BizWest Media LLC.


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Destiny: Rise of Iron guide – Exotic quests, Dormant SIVA Clusters, Splicer Keys and more
Release dates: every game confirmed for 2016
SCEE is celebrating the first anniversary of PS Vita with discounts on select games through the PlayStation Store.
Ps Vits Anniversary headlines
Ps Vits Anniversary latest
PS Vita anniversary sale starts tomorrow


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By DIANE BRONCACCIO
Saturday, September 22, 2007
GREENFIELD – How many people buy locally grown foods? What’s most important in choosing produce? Price? Appearance? Locally grown? Organic?
Fifth- and sixth-grade Greenfield Center School students are helping ClSA (Communities Involved in Sustaining Agriculture) find out these answers by compiling a survey about what people want most in their fruits and vegetables.
About 20 students polled roughly 400 people on Main Street this week, and will present their data to CISA next week. The information will allow ClSA to determine “what drives the purchase of local food,” said Claire Morenon of CISA.
When asked what surprised them most about the survey, many students said they didn’t know how many people buy local food
JHE of Northampton, J, 11 of Amherst and MF, 10, of Montague found that more people preferred local produce to that labeled “organic.”
“I was surprised so much is grown in Massachusetts,” remarked EV 11 of Greenfield. Part of the students’ assignment this week was a “scavenger hunt,” to find produce grown in different parts of the world, .in different parts of the United States, and foods grown and produced near Greenfield.
“I shop with my parents, but 1 didn’t think about where (the food) came from,” he continued. “Before 1 did the scavenger hunt, 1 would have said about 30 percent of my food was local. Now 1 would say 60 percent.”
SS of Northampton said she was surprised that as many people buy produce at farmers markets as buy it in the grocery store. “Few grew their own,” she noted. Her survey partner, OV of Amherst, said most people who buy their produce in supermarkets mentioned cost as their most important consideration. “I thought people would have liked ‘organic’ more,” he said.
LB said she was surprised that most people say their favorite local produce is corn on the cob, rather than strawberries, tomatoes or apples.
“I interviewed a policeman, and he said he only ate 5 percent of local,” B continued. “I must eat 80 percent local,” said B, whose father farms in Gill.
Many Center School students will be taking a pledge next week to eat more local produce, with their parents’ permission. For some, the pledge is to eat one locally grown fruit or vegetable per day, while others are pledging to eat “100 percent” local food, with the exception of spices, salt or some other “wild card” food exception, such as wheat or pasta.
Teacher Rebecca Golden said the purpose is to help educate children and their families of the value of eating fresh, local foods. She said the school’s after-school snacks next week will be derived from local produce.
When asked if she plans to pledge to eat more locally grown food next week, LB, who turns 10 on Sunday, shook her head no. “It’s the week of my birthday,” she said. “I want to chill out and eat whatever I want.”


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Beware Latest Phone Scam Making Rounds Locally"Neighbor spoofing" involves an incoming call that appears to be local.
Got a Gift Card for the Holidays? Read the Fine PrintSome cards can only be used in stores, and not online.
BBB Warns of 'Grandparent Scam' During Spring BreakWith students traveling away from home and family members worrying about their safety, scammers use it as an opportunity.
BBB Warns of Valentine's Day ScamsIt's getting to be crunch time to order something online for your Valentine. And that can cause some problems for people who don't take the time to do their homework.
Local Scam Might Get You Arrested For Reshipping PackagesA company called Beta Brown says it will pay you up to $4,000 a month, but you might be named as an accomplice in a criminal scheme.
Don't Shop on Cyber Monday Until You Have a Delivery PlanFirst, think about how to protect your online purchases from being stolen by porch pirates.
This $50 Children's Toy is Being Sold for $300 OnlineThe Hatchimal is this year's must-have holiday toy for kids.
Crooked Painter Uses Trump to Entice CustomersThe Better Business Bureau (BBB) is issuing a warning about the companies run by convicted felon, Matt Buckingham, who racked up dozens of complaints with his previous lawn care businesses.
Bogus Hockey Playoff Ticket Alert In ChicagoBBB says scammers could be looking to make quick buck on Hawks-Blues series games 3 & 4
Warning About Dream House Raffle for CharityThe St. Louis dream house raffle, with Pat Sajak as a celebrity endorser, is selling $100 tickets for those grand prizes, but the Better Business Bureau says those prizes are only given away if 30,000 tickets are sold.
BBB: Dynamic Pet Products Faces New Criticism on Ham BonesNine consumers from across the nation have reported in the past six months that their dogs suddenly became ill or died after eating the Real Ham Bones.
BBB: Online Rental Scams Common in Vacation AreasThe Nashville, Illinois, family killed in a Kentucky plane crash was returning from Key West Florida where they were victims of an online rental scam.


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Gurbaksh Chahal’s non-compete agreement with Yahoo Inc. following the sale of his last company, BlueLithium Inc., ended Friday. He’s wasting no time getting back in the ad network game, repositioning his current start-up as an online network that overlays social and intent data to serve display ads.
The company, gWallet Inc., is being rebranded as RadiumOne Inc. and will use “social retargeting” technology to analyze how users interact with one another to find consumers most closely identified with a brand’s customer base. Chahal said RadiumOne will outperform any previous ad network or refund the full cost of campaigns that run on the new network.
“The big mega trend that has happened since BlueLithium was acquired is social has become everything on the Internet,” Chahal said. “Sharing is the big phenomenon and no one has tapped into that as an enhancement of data.”


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(Source: Yahoo! Finance)
Stocks in technology giant Apple have fallen by nearly five per cent, and reports vary as to what bad news is driving the stock down.
ValueWalk suggests that the decline is due to comments made by Jefferies Equity Research:
[Analysts] anticipate that Apple Inc. financial results for the first quarter of the current fiscal year will be below the consensus estimates, and project substantial downside for the second quarter.
While at Business Insider they believe the slide may be related to problems with Cirrus, an Apple supplier:
Cirrus Logic's stock is down ~10% this morning after it pre-announced earnings results that were below expectations.
Cirrus's March revenue is expected to be $206.9 million compared to expectations of $210 million, said Canaccord analyst Bobby Burleson. Its EPS is $0.55 compared to expectations of $0.89. Cirrus also guided to $150-$170 million for the June quarter compared to consensus estimates of $195 million.
Apple is one of their largest customers. Cirrus was one of those companies people invested in as an Apple proxy. So, if its guidance is down, some people might anticipate Apple's guidance coming in weak.


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Lactalis Says Baby Milk Could Have Been Contaminated for Years
French dairy group Lactalis may have been producing salmonella-tainted baby milk for more than a decade, its CEO was quoted as saying on Thursday, adding the growing food safety crisis was likely to cost the company hundreds of millions of euros.
Lactalis, one of the world’s largest dairy groups, has recalled 12 million tins in France and around the world after babies were taken ill last year after drinking salmonella-contaminated milk produced at a factory in western France.
The same strain of salmonella was also responsible for some infections in 2005, Lactalis Chief Executive Emmanuel Besnier told French newspaper Les Echos, adding it was possible the factory was the source for these cases, and others since.
In 2005, the factory in Craon was owned by Celia, a company taken over by Lactalis in 2006.
“It can not be excluded that babies have consumed contaminated milk over this period (2005-2017),” Besnier said.
The Institut Pasteur, a French organization that monitors micro-organisms and diseases, said more than 200 babies in France had been contaminated with “Salmonella Agona” since 2005, including 38 between mid-August and December last year, as well as 25 between 2006 and 2017 and 141 in 2005.
French health authorities have said 36 of the 38 cases last year were clearly linked to Lactalis milk, as well as one in Spain and a suspected one in Greece. A group representing victims’ families say at least 10 more cases are unaccounted for.
Besnier said Lactalis was permanently closing one of its facilities at the Craon plant due to the outbreak.
He also questioned the effectiveness of 16,000 tests performed by an unidentified private laboratory last year that had revealed nothing.
“If the analysis of end-products had revealed the presence of Salmonella Agona, we would of course not have marketed the products and we would have avoided the crisis,” Lactalis said in a statement, referring to the laboratory tests.
The victims’ association said it had read Besnier’s comments with “dismay”.
“These are several hundred million boxes concerned and several hundred thousand tonnes of products sent to more than 80 countries. This is a health scandal of unprecedented scale,” it said in a statement.
“This implies that the victims could have been much more numerous.”
Besnier said the scandal was “the biggest crisis I’ve ever had to face as a boss.”
“We can’t say definitively but (the cost) will be very high, several hundred million euros,” he told Les Echos.
“This case could cost us our export license for a still undetermined period,” he added.
Fri, 02/02/2018 – 13:08
Source: Dairy Herd


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Lufthansa has come a long way since it first began regular service to Toronto from Frankfurt 40 years ago. Back then, tickets were hand-written, passengers dined on ceramic plates and post-dinner cigars were the norm. But one thing hasn’t changed in all these years: Lufthansa’s signature inflight service and commitment to excellence. Along with new aircraft, Lufthansa will roll out a new business class fully-flat seat over the next 18 months.
They are really focusing on the west right now, expanding Lufthansa’s presence in the U.S. and in Canada. Their new route between Munich and Vancouver this month is the only new route this year and the daily nonstop flight launches on May 16 onboard an Airbus A330.
Munich is a fantastic holiday destination with the famous Oktoberfest which this year runs September 21 to October 6 or if you like to shop the Munich Christmas Market runs from November 29 to December 24. Let our agents put together a vacation to Munich and Southern Germany you won’t soon forget!


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China‘s total trade volume with the US fell 9 percent to 2.42 trillion yuan ($340 billion), while trade surplus expanded 7.7 percent to 1.33 trillion yuan from January to August amid the escalating trade war.
The US was China‘s third largest trade partner in the first eight months, accounting for 12 percent of China‘s total foreign trade volume, according to the data released by the General Administration of Customs on Sunday.
The declining proportion of China/US trade in China‘s overall trade volume tells the diminishing leverage Washington could impact China‘s economy.
China‘s exports to the US fell 3.7 percent to 1.88 trillion yuan, imports from the US fell 23.5 percent to 545.01 billion yuan from January to August, and trade surplus was 1.33 trillion yuan.
The trade surplus expansion with the US was narrowed from the first half of the year‘s 12 percent, and 11.1 percent from the first seven months.
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China‘s trade with countries grew faster than the average level, and its trade with major markets like the EU, countries and Japan kept growing in the first eight months.
China‘s trade with the EU was up 9.7 percent to 3.15 trillion yuan in first eight months. The EU isChina‘s largest trade partner, accounting for 15.6 percent of China‘s total trade volume.
ASEAN countries ranked as China‘s second largest trade partner in the first eight months. The total trade volume grew 11.7 percent to 2.74 trillion yuan, accounting for 13.6 percent of China‘s total trade.
China‘s soybean imports were 56.32 million tons in the first eight months, declining 9.2 percent. China‘s soybean imports in the first half year were down 14.7 percent to 32.87 million tons, and down 11.2 percent to 46.90 million tons in the first seven months.


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J. C. Penney Co. Inc. is set to open its new store at Eden Prairie Center, the company said Monday.
The store will be open for business on March 5, with the official grand opening taking place on Friday, March 9. The new 130,000-square-foot store fills the anchor location formerly occupied by Mervyn's. The store manager is Jolene Christensen.
The store features a full-service Sephora beauty boutique. The approximately 2,000-square-foot Sephora will offer various brands of designer makeup, skin care, fragrance and accessories.
Plano, Texas-based J. C. Penney (NYSE:JCP), already operates 10 stores in the Twin Cities.
email@example.com | (612) 288-2108


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NIGERIA – Koolboks, the sustainable cooling company providing accessible cold storage solutions to businesses across Africa, has closed a US$2.5m seed funding round.
Founded in 2018 in France, Koolboks, with operations in Nigeria, combines Africa’s abundant supply of the sun with water to create a solution that is able to generate refrigeration for up to four days in the absence of power and sunlight.
Through efficiently harnessing natural resources, the company has made it affordable to access continuous refrigeration by integrating a pay-as-you-go technology that enables individuals and small businesses to pay as low as US$10 a month to own an offgrid solar refrigerator.
The Koolboks unit works as a refrigerator, freezer, or lighting for households and shops. It also comes with 2 LED lighting bulbs and USB ports for charging mobile phones – making the product invaluable to users in off-grid areas.
The company’s ice thermal refrigeration technology reduces CO2 emissions, displacing the use of diesel, and by incorporating R600a, an environmentally friendly refrigerant.
With 770 million people across SSA lacking proper access to electricity, and only 17% having access to refrigeration, Koolboks is striving to close the gap in equitable access to clean, readily available energy.
Currently, the company sells its products across 16 countries, 13 of them in sub-Saharan Africa.
Following the close of the funding round, Koolboks will deploy the capital to scale its expansion across Nigeria, including building its team to support its growing B2C business and construction of a local assembly facility in the country. It also opened an affiliate office in Kenya in July, 2022.
Commenting on the opportunity to empower more small businesses with access to affordable cold storage solutions, Ayoola Dominic, CEO of Kooboks said, “Poor energy access, high costs of buying and running generators, and the relatively high cost of cooling prevent many African businesses and households from accessing refrigeration when it’s most critically needed.
“We believe that people can make their livelihoods and feed their families by relying on energy from natural resources – energy from the sun, wind and water that are abundant around us. It’s a win for the people, a win for us, a win for our investors and a win for the planet.”
The round was led by Aruwa Capital Management with participation from Acumen, Blue Earth Capital, All On, GSMA and other investors. This brings the company’s total investment to date to US$3.5m.
Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes, Founder at Aruwa Capital Management added, “We have been impressed with Koolboks’ innovative solution which goes far beyond food waste reduction – the team’s laser focus on ensuring clean renewable energy in off-grid areas is crucial to the survival of many small businesses and sectors as well as fostering economic gender equality.
“Equitable access to clean and reliable energy is key to closing the gender economic gap across rural areas and we are excited to see Koolboks’ expansion continue to make economic equity a reality for millions more women across Africa.”
The off-grid refrigeration market is currently worth US$4.4 billion, and is growing at a rate of 7%, according to the Efficiency for Access Coalition.


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Few sectors in India have been celebrated as beacons of economic growth as the telecom industry. With frenetic consolidation over the past several years, and the eventual emergence of three large players, India’s telecom sector has been seen as evidence of a burgeoning economy, where large chunks of the population have been given access to mobile telephony, and cheap data. Alongside, the mobile revolution has created jobs, and spawned several new ventures, giving a major boost to India’s startup ecosystem. All in all, quite a success story. Till now.
Today, the sector is in the throes of what is arguably its biggest crisis ever, with mounting debt, poor infrastructure, unreliable service, and one of the three major players—Vodafone Idea—teetering on the brink of collapse. How did this storied industry come to this moment? The answer lies in a few things. When Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Jio Infocomm stormed into the scene in 2016 and offered data at dirt-cheap rates, its major rivals Sunil Mittal’s Bharti Airtel, Vodafone India, and Kumar Mangalam Birla’s Idea Cellular knew they had to invest heavily to take on Jio. A year later, Vodafone India and Idea decided to merge to create Vodafone Idea to deal with Jio’s onslaught. But it took the incumbents a long time to offer 4G services countrywide. Even so, Airtel was faster on this than Vodafone Idea. On the other hand, Jio came in without baggage and had a head start over its rivals. And while Airtel could raise money and pump in hefty investments to upgrade its network, Vodafone Idea began floundering. The body blow for the sector, however, came with the SupremeCourt delivering its verdict late last year on the contentious adjusted gross revenue (AGR) issue, upholding the government’s view that the non-core revenues of the telecom companies would also have to be included for the purpose of computing statutory dues to the government. The total bill for a period of 14years: Over ₹1 lakh crore for Airtel, Vodafone Idea, and Tata Teleservices alone.
In our cover story this month, Aveek Datta and T. Surendar take a detailed look at how the cookie crumbled for India’s telecom sector and where it standsnow. With the Supreme Court refusing to budge on its verdict, the government finds itself in a bind: While the government must recover the dues and comply with the court order, letting Vodafone Idea collapse will have serious repercussions on the economy as a whole and send terribly wrong signals globally. The situation has the potential to reduce the sector to a duopoly, given Jio’s financial might and Airtel’s stated ability to cough up the AGR dues. The story is full of twists and turns, with new developments taking place every day.
Curiously, even as the mobile service providers struggle, handset makers have never had it better, particularly in the premium smartphones segment. Abhik Sen and Shishir Behera bring you the story of how smartphone makers like OnePlus, vivo, and others are lining up one premium launch after another in a bid to woo a generation of smartphone-crazy Indians hooked on data. And the interesting bit is, even as prices are inching up again, the market seems hungry enough to gobble up more. India never ceases to surprise.
(This was originally published in the March 2020 edition.)


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We are surrounded by photographs pretty much every waking minute that we are using any type of communication device these days. In the realm of social media, photographs and video content rule the platforms. Let’s dive a bit further into the subject of Taking Excellent Social Media Photos — 5 Tips From a Photography Legend. […]
social media Archives | PriceWeber
A casual reader looking at spirit sales numbers for 2020 might think it’s a pretty good year. After all, in July Nielsen indicated a 52-week rolling sales increase of 5.1%. But those numbers do not tell the whole story. Overrepresentation in sales increases by the larger, high awareness brands and well known value brands, and […]
While most of the world is in quarantine and practicing social distancing, one social media platform has continued to maintain a rapid growth in downloads, especially in the U.S. According to Sensor Tower’s report, 2019’s second most downloaded app worldwide, TikTok, saw an 18% increase in downloads, tallying the number to 2 million between March 16 and 22, compared to the previous week at 1.7 million.
If you’ve been in the banking business for a while like me, you can attest to the fact that for decades, pundits have declared virtually every recession, economic downturn or national crisis to be the death knell of community banks, and in 2020, the financial emergency caused by the global pandemic is no different.
In this edition of our plain-talk series, we’ll take a look at brand trust and corporate social responsibility, and discuss how the two are playing out during the current COVID-19 global crisis.
Ad dollars are on the move in the financial space – increasingly shifting from traditional to digital, and specifically to mobile. While financial services have historically relied on more traditional vehicles, times are indeed changing. In this edition of the Compound Interest series, we’ll talk about why it is time to up your digital game and how to do it.
Influencer marketing has become a digital monster. Are you doing it? Are you doing it wrong? Should you be doing it at all? If so, how and under what circumstances? In this edition of the Plain Talk series, we’ll take some of the mystery out of influencer marketing and dispel a few myths along the way. First, let’s talk about the money.
In today’s plain-talk newsletter, we’re talking social responsibility trends. Americans’ trust in the federal government to handle both international and domestic matters is at the lowest point it has been in more than twenty years, according to a recent Gallup poll. Only 35 percent of Americans have “a great deal” or “a fair amount” of trust in the U.S. government’s ability to handle domestic issues. Meanwhile, trust in the government to handle international issues ranks only six points higher at a mere 41 percent.
Last month, this meme juxtaposing Tom Cruise and Wilford Brimley’s ages made the internet rounds, leaving innumerable blown minds in its wake. For those who followed up with Wikipedia, it proved true: When he filmed Cocoon in 1984, Brimley was 50 years old; Tom Cruise filmed Mission: Impossible-Fallout at 55. The age comparison between the two men has been circulating for the past few years, updating essentially with every new Mission: Impossible release, but this time it rocketed around social media faster, perhaps because Cruise is now in his mid-50s yet still pulling off his own stunts.
There’s no better way to start a New Year than with a new client. And when that client includes a polar bear, snowy owls, Siberian tiger, and western lowland gorillas (to name a few)…that’s just icing on top.
If 2016 set out to be the year of controversy, it certainly hasn’t disappointed. Daily local, regional, national and international headlines have not failed to give passionate social media users a plethora of causes to fuel the expression of their opinions. And much like the Energizer Bunny, they just keep going and going and going.


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Merrill Lynch CEO steps down
Calls for ouster grew after $2.24 billion quarterly loss
Published 10:00 pm, Tuesday, October 30, 2007
NEW YORK -- The unfolding credit crisis has claimed its biggest corporate casualty so far: Merrill Lynch CEO Stan O'Neal.
The announcement of his departure Tuesday came after the world's largest brokerage posted a $2.24 billion quarterly loss, its biggest since being founded 93 years ago. Merrill Lynch did not name a replacement for O'Neal, whose ouster had been expected, and who leaves the company with benefits worth $161.5 million.
Laurence Fink, the chief executive of investment manager BlackRock Inc., turned down an initial overture from Merrill's board but is in active negotiations, according to a person with direct knowledge of the offer who was not authorized to speak publicly. With the presumed front-runner out of contention, filling the top spot at Merrill Lynch is not expected to be easy given the unknowns from the global credit crisis.
Any replacement will face the daunting task of cleaning up investments in subprime mortgages and other risky types of debt, and rebuilding an investment house badly bruised.
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There is speculation by a number of analysts that Merrill Lynch faces a $4 billion write-down during the fourth quarter. This would be on top of a $7.9 billion charge taken last quarter, a stunning amount since Merrill originally said it would write down only $4.5 billion because of credit market turmoil.
O'Neal was also criticized for reportedly approaching Wachovia Corp. about some kind of merger without the approval of his board.
"These losses, coupled with rumors that O'Neal had proposed a merger with Wachovia without the board's approval, essentially dug O'Neal's grave," Morningstar analyst Ryan Lentell said. "The new CEO's first priority must be to ensure proper risk-management procedures are in place to prevent a recurrence of the quarter's loss."
O'Neal, 56, accepted blame for the losses, which immediately led to calls for his ouster.